Salvia plant named &#39;flamenco rose&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  plant of unknown parentage is provided that was discovered in a nursery setting while growing among other  Salvia  plants. Over a long blooming season attractive blossoms are formed having a hot pink coloration. The growth habit is upright and bushy. The foliage is large and bright green in coloration. Following pruning, the plant displays a tendency to vigorously regrow. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Salvia hybrida/Salvia Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Flamenco Rose

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia cultivar of the present invention was discovered duringAugust or September, 2004, while growing in a plant nursery settingamong other Salvia plants at Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A. The newcultivar is of unknown parentage and likely includes Salvia microphyllain its ancestry. The new plant was distinguished from other Salviaplants growing in the nursery where it was discovered primarily througha study of its distinctive blossoms having a hot pink colorationcombined with other attractive botanical characteristics identifiedhereafter. Had the single plant of the present invention not beendiscovered and carefully preserved, it would have been lost to mankind.

The plant is a perennial that can be grown to advantage withoutprotection in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11.

It was found that the new Salvia cultivar possesses the followingcombination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) displays an upright and bushy growth habit,    -   (b) forms in abundance over a long blooming season attractive        blossoms having a hot pink coloration,    -   (c) displays vigorous large bright green foliage,    -   (d) displays a tendency to vigorously regrow following pruning,        and    -   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom other Salvia cultivars, such as the ‘Wild Thing’ cultivar(non-patented in the United States). For instance, the ‘Wild Thing’cultivar displays a less upright growth habit and forms blossoms thatare more fuchsia rather than hot pink in coloration.

The new cultivar well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens,public areas, and residential landscapes.

The new cultivar has been asexually reproduced by the rooting ofcuttings for several generations. Such asexual reproduction as performedat Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A., and near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., hasdemonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and stable and are strictly transmissible from one generation toanother. Accordingly, the new cultivar asexually reproduces in atrue-to-type manner from one generation to another.

The new cultivar has been named ‘Flamenco Rose’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, aclose view of typical specimens of the new cultivar while growingoutdoors. The hot pink blossoms are illustrated as is the large brightgreen foliage. The plants had been reproduced by the rooting of cuttingsin a greenhouse and subsequently had been transplanted to the outdoorsnear West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. The photograph was obtained during June2010 when the plants were approximately one year of age.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) of London, England. Colorterminology in common terms sometimes is included as an aid to thereader. Such color terminology is to be accorded its customarydictionary significance. The description is based on the observation oftypical specimens of the new cultivar at an age of approximately oneyear during July 2010 while growing outdoors near West Grove, Pa.,U.S.A.

-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—bushy, vigorous, and generally upright.        -   Height.—commonly up to approximately 50 cm on average.        -   Width.—commonly approximately 30 cm on average.        -   Growth habit.—perennial in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to            11.        -   Leaf arrangement.—opposite.        -   Leaf configuration.—elliptic to oblong.        -   Leaf length.—commonly approximately 2.5 to 3 cm on average.        -   Leaf width.—commonly approximately 1 to 1.5 cm on average.        -   Leaf margin.—repand.        -   Leaf texture.—commonly slightly fleshy.        -   Leaf blade color.—Green Group 137C on the upper surface, and            Green Group 138B on the under surface.        -   Leaf blade apex.—acute to obtusely rounded.        -   Leaf blade base.—mainly obtuse.        -   Scent.—leaves commonly display a tangy fruity scent when            crushed.        -   Petiole shape.—somewhat flattened.        -   Petiole length.—variable and commonly approximately 5 to 9            mm.        -   Petiole width.—commonly approximately 1 to 1.5 mm.        -   Petiole color.—Yellow-Green Group 145A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Time.—prolonged blooming period beginning in May and            extending into September.        -   Type.—terminal raceme.        -   Diameter.—commonly approximately 11 mm on average.        -   Length.—commonly approximately 17 mm on average.        -   Number.—commonly up to approximately 40 flowers per plant on            average.        -   Configuration.—tubular, and two-lipped.        -   Pedicel length.—commonly approximately 3 to 4 mm on average.        -   Pedicel width.—commonly approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Pedicel color.—green, Yellow-Green Group 145B.        -   Calyx shape.—broadly campanulate and flared towards the            apex.        -   Calyx rib number.—commonly 13 and longitudinally disposed.        -   Calyx length.—commonly approximately 10 mm on average.        -   Calyx width.—commonly up to 6 mm.        -   Calyx texture.—glandular and puberulent on the upper and            under surfaces.        -   Calyx color.—on the upper lobe Red-Purple Group 60B at the            apex and Yellow-Green Group 145A at the base, and on the            lower lobes primarily Yellow-Green Group 145B.        -   Calyx lobe number.—3.        -   Calyx upper lobe number.—1.        -   Calyx upper lobe shape.—acute.        -   Calyx upper lobe length.—commonly approximately 4 mm on            average.        -   Calyx upper lobe width.—commonly approximately 4 mm in            width.        -   Calyx lower lobe number.—2.        -   Calyx lower lobe shape.—acute.        -   Calyx lower lobe length.—commonly approximately 3 mm on            average.        -   Calyx lower lobe width.—commonly approximately 4 mm on            average.        -   Corolla shape.—tubular proximally to two-lipped distally.        -   Corolla length.—commonly approximately 2.2 to 2.5 cm on            average.        -   Corolla color.—the base commonly is near Yellow-White Group            158D, the tube is near Red-Purple Group 58C, and the lower            lip is near Red-Purple Group 58C infused with some White            Group 155A.        -   Corolla tube length.—approximately 23 mm on average.        -   Corolla tube width.—approximately 3 mm on average.        -   Corolla tube depth.—approximately 7 mm on average.        -   Corolla tube lip number.—2.        -   Corolla upper lip number.—1.        -   Corolla upper lip shape.—hood-like.        -   Corolla upper lip length.—commonly approximately 9 mm            average.        -   Corolla lower lip length.—2, suborbicular.        -   Corolla lower lip shape.—banner-like, and extended downward.        -   Corolla lower lip outline.—obovate.        -   Corolla lower lip length.—commonly approximately 12 mm on            average.        -   Corolla lower lip diameter at tip.—approximately 12 mm on            average.        -   Style length.—approximately 2.5 cm on average.        -   Style width.—commonly approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Style attachment site.—at four-lobed ovary between lobes.        -   Stamen number.—2.        -   Stamen shape.—seesaw-like.        -   Filament length.—approximately 6 mm on average.        -   Connective length.—approximately 12 mm on average.        -   Anther length.—approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Anther diameter.—approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Anther color.—Yellow-Orange Group 16A.        -   Anther attachment site.—at outer end of the connective.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—vigorous and displays a tendency to quickly            regrow following pruning.        -   Blooming.—displays long blooming season.        -   Fertility.—not observed with the plants being sterile during            observations to date.        -   Winter hardiness.—the plant is a perennial that can be grown            in at least U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11.        -   Disease resistance.—no particular sensitivity to disease has            been encountered during observations to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Salvia plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) displays an upright and bushy growth habit, (b) forms in abundance over a long blooming season attractive blossoms having a hot pink coloration, (c) displays vigorous large bright green foliage, (d) displays a tendency to vigorously regrow following pruning, and (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation; substantially as illustrated and described. 